The prospect of more than one million Australian pensioners getting help to meet soaring food, housing and transport costs has been buried by the 2008 budget, Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said today.
"The budget leaves these grandest of Australia's working families struggling on the poverty line," Senator Brown said.
"The Rudd government has spent $31 billion on inflationary tax cuts, $41 billion on 'future funds' for infrastructure and $22 billion on defence but has given zero to lift the meagre $273 per week pension. The budget should have, minimum, lifted single pensions from 59% to two thirds of pensions for couples. It should have delivered pensioners at least a $30 per week across-the-board income lift."
Senator Brown said changes to indexation and utilities allowances did not address the inadequacy of the weekly pension rate to ensure a decent standard of living.
"Treasurer Swan has gifted the big end of town with tax cuts boosting income every week, but left pensioners struggling with meagre weekly incomes which are a disgrace," Senator Brown said.
Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603